Stop Harassers! Tips?

Many people think that because our project is called “hollaback”, we endorse yelling at harassers in every circumstance. Not so. Hollaback! was founded because after yelling at harassers, we were left frustrated and angry.

Hollaback! thought it if victims shared their stories on a blog, it would bring much needed attention to the issue, and ultimately, shift the culture that makes street harassment OK. The strategy seems to be working pretty well so far, but we understand that sometimes you want to do more than just tell your story.For those times, we’ve adopted this guide from Holly Kearl’s Stop Street Harassment blog, below. Holly has also included ideas from Martha Langelan, Lauren R. Taylor, and Dr. Bernice Sandler. Let us know if you have ideas of your own, too!

To begin, there is no overall “best” way to respond to every harasser in every circumstance. You have to make that call, and your safety is your first priority!!! That said, here are a range of ideas for responses you can use that hold harassers accountable for their behavior..

ASSERTIVE RESPONSES TO A HARASSER

Six suggestions for how to react to a harasser:

1. Use strong body language. Look the harasser in the eyes; speak in a strong, clear voice. Using your voice, facial expressions, and body language together, without mixed signals, show assertiveness and strength.

2. Project confidence and calm. Even if you do not feel that way, it is important to appear calm, serious, and confident.

3. Do not apologize, make an excuse, or ask a question. You do not need to say sorry for how you feel or what you want. Be firm.

4. You do not need to respond to diversions, questions, threats, blaming, or guilt-tripping. Stay on your own agenda. Stick to your point. Repeat your statement or leave.

5. Do not swear or lose your temper: This type of reaction is the most likely to make the harasser respond with anger and violence.

6. Decide when you’re done. Success is how you define it. If you said what you needed to say and you’re ready to leave, do so.

Twelve ideas for what you can say to a harasser:

1. Name the behavior and state that it is wrong. For example say, “Do not whistle at me, that is harassment,” or “Do not touch my butt, that is sexual harassment.”

2. Tell them exactly what you want. Say, for example, “move away from me,” “stop touching me,” or “go stand over there.”

3. Ask them if they would want their mother, sister, daughter, girl friend, wife treated like they are treating you.

4. Make an all-purpose anti-harassment statement, such as: “Stop harassing women. I don’t like it. No one likes it. Show some respect.” Speak it in a neutral but assertive tone.

5. Use an A-B-C statement (and be very concrete about A and C): Tell the harasser what the problem is; State the effect; and What you want. Here is an example: “When you make kissing noises at me it makes me feel uncomfortable. I want you to say, ‘Hello, ma’am,’ from now on if you want to talk to me.”

6. Identify the perpetrator: “Man in the yellow shirt, stop touching me.” (This is especially useful if other people are nearby, like on a bus).

7. Attack the behavior, not the person. Tell them what they are doing that you do not like (“You are standing too close”) rather than blaming them as a person (“You are such a jerk”).

8. Use the “’Miss Manners’ Approach” and ask the harasser something like, “I beg your pardon!” or “I can’t believe you said that,” or “You must have me confused with someone to whom you think you can speak that way,” combined with facial expressions of shock, dismay, and disgust.

9. Ask a Socratic question such as, “That’s so interesting – can you explain why you think you can put your hand on my leg?”

10. If the harasser is in a car, write down the license plate of the car. Even if you can’t see it, pretending to write it down can scare the perpetrator into stopping. If the harassers are aggressive or threatening and you do write down the license plate number, you can report them to the police.

11. Buy a notebook and write in bold letters on the cover “Street Harassment.” Take out the notebook when you are harassed and ask the harasser to repeat himself so you can write it down. Make a big show of asking for the date, time, checking the place you are at, etc. If they ask why you’re writing things down, you can say you are keeping a record of harassment.

12. Tell the harasser that you are conducting a street harassment research project or survey. Take out a notebook and start asking them questions such as, “How often do you do this?” or “How do you choose which people to harass?” or “Are you more likely to do this when you are alone or when you’re with other people,” or “Do you discuss people you harass with your mother, sister, or female friends?”